It’s almost always the case with things on your doorstep: you forget to visit them, or even to appreciate their handy existence. I’ve known Wenlock Priory for over half a century which possibly adds its own miniscule historical dimension to this most ancient Shropshire site. Anyway, a few weeks ago I took myself off there for a long-postponed visit. It’s only a short walk down the Cutlins path past the MacMoo clan. I quite enjoyed playing tourist in my own town.
The photo shows the remnant south aisle of the once vastly prestigious monastic edifice built in the 12th century CE to house monks from their mother foundation in Cluny, France. But then that’s only half the story.
We need to wind the time-machine clock back another thousand years. The Romans were here too, though what they left behind has been hard to interpret: villa, bathhouse, shrine – all, or only one of these. The remains anyway survived into Saxon times and were apparently repurposed in the building of a double convent i.e. for both monks and nuns (in separate quarters). This work was commissioned by King Merewald of Mercia (basically the English Midlands) in the 600s CE.
His daughter Milburga (later to be sanctified and made pilgrimage-worthy) served as abbess once she had been sufficiently well educated over in France. Her two sisters were also similarly educated to be abbesses of other religious houses. Their mother too, left Mercia and her marriage, to become abbess down in Kent. Such positions entrusted to royal woman allowed them to control extensive landed estates along with their agricultural and mineral assets, as well as to look to the spiritual welfare of the land’s lowly inhabitants.
Over succeeding centuries, Milburga’s convent underwent various phases of redevelopment. When the Normans arrived in the 11th century the site was re-dedicated to the Cluniac (monks only) monastic order. But after the finding of what were believed to be Milburga’s bones in 1101, the priory received a very big upgrade, along with a saintly shrine and the patronage of the King of England. So began the era of pilgrim-tourism and the up-sprouting of Wenlock town to cater for the influx. In fact two of our well-loved public houses – the George and Dragon and the Talbot have their origins in these times. So much history then in one small place. So many long-established ties with Europe. Makes you wonder what our forebears would have thought of Brexit.
Doorway from the south aisle to the now roofless cloister.
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For Historic England’s schedule summary of the Priory’s history please go HERE.
Cee’s Black & White Photo Challenge: Indoor walkways, hallways, elevators
Tish Farrell 
I really enjoy your history lessons, Tish, especially when illustrated
That’s very nice of you, Ian.
Gorgeous photos for this week. 😀 Thanks Tish.
Thank you, Cee.
Ah, I do like Wenlock Priory, but may never see it again….
Oh dear. That sounds sad, Sue.
Wonderful captures of these ruined lines, Tish. It must have been magnificent in its heyday.
One of the biggest monastic churches in medieval Europe – or so I’ve read. It’s hard to imagine quite how imposing it must have been in our little valley.
The scale on which they built in those days never ceases to amaze. Wonderful shots, Tish.
Yes, even the left over remains are impressive. Astonishing feats of engineering and architecture.
Beautiful . . . really must visit one of these days.
It is worth it. Buildwas Abbey down the road too.
Maybe in spring as Yorkshire and Scotland already in diary, and then it’s Christmas followed by Portugal. Will happen though 😁
Spring would be good.
😊
Some nice, well preserved fornication there!
It was certainly very well documented at a later period when it was purportedly men only. All sorts of goings on, including a bit of forgery..
I hope we are still talking about the architecture? 🙂
Possibly went off piste there.
Weeerll … better than being piste off, I suppose?
For the record ….
Fornication: Vaulting. Derives from the word fornix> meaning arched.
The Ark. Keeping you honest!
🙂
Certainly worth the visit, Tish. I find, and friends have said the same things, that often I don’t visit things in my own area unless company comes. I guess we should pretend periodically that we have company and go see places we would take them. : -)
janet
I think that’s lovely. We should take imaginary guests out to our favourite local spots. As long as we don’t talk too loudly to them 😉
Classic lines! I love them 🙂 🙂 Happy weekend, Tish!
And happy weekend to you too, Jo.
I do love how you share the history of this beautiful ruin, and make it so relevant to today Tish. You are absolutely right too about how we forget the places and sights that are right under our noses.
Thank you for those kind words, Su. When I was writing it I hadn’t realised that Brexit had just been stalled – yet again.
thank for your sharing these little gems. great photography laden with history. 🙂
It looks like Dracula’s first home in Great Britain 😀
😉 You could well be right.
Knowing a bit about British history, I reckon they’d probably think, ‘business as usual’.
Wow, Tish. The history of civilization in your corner of the world never ceases to amaze. That the roots of communities like yours goes so remarkably deep is simply fascinating, especially when I get excited when something here can trace its history to the 1800s. It’s actually laughable.
Interesting bit about the role of high-bred women. They didn’t exactly get any choices. They were simply pawns in the plans of man.
The Saxon princesses do seem to have been used for political purposes by their fathers. On the other hand, they must have wielded a lot of power in their own domains, which were pretty extensive territory-wise, and at least they weren’t ‘married off’. The tales of St Milburga are full of her adventures fleeing the unwanted advances of swash-buckling suitors.
Whenever anyone says that history is boring I’m always astounded. There are more fascinating stories than we can possibly learn in a lifetime.
Absolutely!